Research highlights the sharp concentrations of disadvantage and deprivation found within the West Midlands major urban areas, namely the main West Midlands conurbation and the North Staffordshire conurbation.
This priority aims to address the significant concentrations of economic need and seeks to generate major employment opportunities accessible to those communities. To encourage enterprise in these areas of greatest need in the region, ensuring that the potential of all individuals is harnessed, will act as a major contributor to help the region to achieve its productivity goals. The aim is to:
• create new employment opportunities;
• promote the take-up of these opportunities by residents in disadvantaged areas; and
• develop a range of environmental measures to improve the sustainability potential of these areas.
Supported by £70m, Priority 3 has opted for an area based 'package' approach, i.e. a group of related projects, rather than a project by project approach across the relevant urban areas. Partners responded to a request for Expressions of Interest to be appointed as Package Owners. Advantage West Midlands (AWM) reviewed the returns (and subject to the production of a suitable Package Plan and endorsement by the PMC) appointed six Package Owners to deliver Packages in the following areas: North Staffordshire, Coventry and Nuneaton, Birmingham, North Solihull, North Black Country and South Black Country. AWM retains authority for individual project approval within the Packages.
Details of how the priority will be delivered are summarised in an Investment Framework, which is located in the 'Related Documents'.
Additional information on the management of this priority is available within the Partnership and Governance section.